We certainly aren’t thin on the ground when it comes to cocktail bars in our capital city, are we? What I’m slightly lacking, however, is the ability to offer anything other than apple and blackcurrant squash or a below-par G&T (garnished with a slice of over-a-week-old cucumber) when I invite friends over for a drink. And that’s exactly where a cocktail masterclass comes in handy.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to whip up a magnificently-mixed mojito or a perfectly-poured paloma at the drop of a hat? Well perhaps I’m slightly overestimating just how much I’ll be able to learn in one cocktail class but it’s certainly worth a try, hey?
Whether you like yours shaken, stirred, on the rocks, or with a twist; we’ve rounded up 10 of the very best places for you to flex your mixology muscles. Whatever the occasion: hen-dos, date nights, or just a good old evening out with your pals, London is full of cracking cocktail classes for you to mix things up a little.
1. The Lucky Pig
Kicking off our list of the top 10 cocktail making classes in London is The Lucky Pig, an intimate cocktail bar with an atmosphere as cosy as a warm (and mildly alcohol infused) hug. Get ready to be taken on a mixology adventure as an experienced mixologist gives you a little bit of cocktail-related history (for the proper grown-ups) before demonstrating some techniques and then letting you loose with the cocktail shaker to try them out for yourself.
Classes are held at 3pm (Tues – Fri) and 4pm (Sat), they last for two hours and cost £80 for two people.
Plan your visit here.
5 Clipstone Street, W1W 6BB
2. Aquum
Bringing the luxury of the West End to Clapham High Street is Aquum, a one-stop shop for all of your night-out needs in South West London. They provide a fully stocked cocktail bar, on which you can make three cocktails and truly let your creative juices flow. You’ll receive a complimentary shot upon arrival to really get you in the spirit of things and they also offer alcohol-free options so no-one needs to feel left out. Cheers to that!
Classes are held between 5pm-9pm (Weds, Thurs and Sun) and cost £30pp (or you can add on some sharing platters for an extra £9pp).
Plan your visit here.
68-70 Clapham High Street, SW4 7UL
3. The Folly
Next up on our list of the best cocktail making classes in London is The Folly, a beautiful botanically-inspired oasis that can be found just a stone’s throw away from Monument station. Step inside this foliage-filled haven, and escape the hustle and bustle of the city as you shake, strain, mix and muddle your way to some blooming delicious cocktails.
Classes are held between 11am-8pm (Tues-Sat) and cost from £30pp).
Plan your visit here.
41 Gracechurch Street, EC3V 0BT
4. Lucky Voice
Some can sing, some can dance, and some can make a cracking cosmopolitan; at Lucky Voice, you’ll have the opportunity to do all three (or at least try your best to).
Cocktails and karaoke are a match made in heaven so whether you’re a dab hand with a microphone, a cocktail shaker, both or (in my case) neither; this masterclass will give you all the Dutch courage you’ll need to belt your heart out whilst your friends watch on in wonder (or – you know – horror).
Classes are held on Saturdays and Sundays (times dependent on location) and cost from £45pp.
Plan your visit here.
Various London locations
5. Rules
If you want to be let in on one of London’s best kept secrets, keep reading, because hidden above Rules, London’s oldest restaurant, is their effortlessly chic and oh-so elegant cocktail bar, Upstairs at Rules (does what it says on the tin, I guess).
Their head bartender, the legendary Brian Silva, is now sharing his unrivalled wisdom with an elite few at his mixology masterclasses. Holding just two classes a week and having a limit of four people to each class; this experience is exclusively tailored to each individual that attends.
Although on the pricier end of the cocktail making class scale, you certainly get what you pay for with this intimate and down-right boujie experience in the heart of Covent Garden.
Classes are held at 2.30pm (Weds and Thurs) and cost £95pp.
Plan your visit here.
34-35 Maiden Lane, WC2E 7LB
6. TT Liquor
The next entry on our list of the best cocktail making classes in London is found at TT Liquor, the Kingsland Road cocktail bar, set within an old Victorian police station. If you’re looking for a super interactive cocktail making experience with a side of friendly competition, this one may well be for you.
Not only will you receive a complimentary cocktail on arrival, you’ll also be shown how to make (and more importantly, drink) a whopping four cocktails behind one of their custom-built cocktail making stations and will also be given the fascinating history on each of the drinks you’re making. The masterclass will be finished off with a good bout of friendly rivalry as each team competes to make their very own tasty concoction.
Classes are held at 7pm (Weds-Fri) and 1pm (Sat) and cost £75pp.
Plan your visit here.
17B Kingsland Road, E2 8AA
7. ABQ
Don your finest yellow hazmat suit, step inside the RV, and get ready to cook your cocktails from scratch, Breaking Bad style at ABQ, the world’s first immersive molecular cocktail bar.
You and your pals can channel your inner Walter White, with an hour and 45 minutes worth of infusing, shaking, cooking and making. Certainly one of the coolest cocktail making experiences on the market.
Classes are held from 5.15pm (Thurs and Fri) and 1.15pm (Sat and Sun) and cost £38pp.
Plan your visit here.
18 Bohemia Place, E8 1DU
8. The Alchemist
Another molecular mixology masterclass on the market (good luck saying that after three cocktails) can be found at The Alchemist. If you’re looking for a class fit for the whole friendship group, look no further, as The Alchemist’s Old Street branch offers innovatively interactive masterclasses for groups of six and above.
I’m sure you’ve seen their creative concoctions all over your social media feeds, and now is your chance to get an up-close-and-personal look at how it’s done.
Classes are held from 12pm-5.30pm (Sun-Thurs) and cost £40pp (non-alcohol option available for £30pp)
Plan your visit here.
145 City Road, EC1V 1LP
9. The Cauldron
If you’re looking for the most enchanting cocktail making class in London, I think we might have found exactly what you’re looking for.
You’ll start off by casting a pouring spell with an actual magic wand to receive your welcome drink, and will then be shown how to brew your very own drinkable elixirs at this real life potion-making class.
I solemnly swear that this cocktail making class will be bewitchingly good.
Classes are held from 5.30pm (Tues-Fri) and 1.30pm (Sat and Sun) and cost £35.99pp.
Plan your visit here.
5d Stoke Newington Road, N16 8BH
10. Canova Hall
The final entry on our list of the top 10 cocktail making classes in London can be found at Canova Hall in Brixton.
You can expect a glass of prosecco to whet your whistle whilst the head bartender guides you through the fundamentals of cocktail-making. You’ll then be left to make and shake your way around the bar, showing off your newly-learnt skills as you produce some (hopefully) delicious creations.
There are games and competitions to partake in throughout and the cherry on top of an already rather delightful cake is the complimentary shot at the end (just in case you weren’t already tipsy enough).
Classes are held from 12pm (Mon-Sun) and cost £60pp.
Plan your visit here.
250 Ferndale Road, SW9 8BQ